Areej Rizwan
/Areej Rizwan
Areej Rizwan is a graphic designer passionate about portraying classical elements found in Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures as well as her religion to build a bridge of reinforcement and cultural connection with others in society. Her work consists of representing the experiences and stories of others and transforming them into innovative designs. Her dream is to create positive change, whether big or small, to help future generations understand their purpose in a world so unknown and often mysterious. She lives by the statement: "My success is only by God" [Quran 11:88]. She believes that success, power, and guidance all come from God, and with strong faith and dedication, you can get through all obstacles in life.
In her project, From the Origin, Areej designed a clothing brand that reflects the visual language of her home country, Pakistan, a combination of Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures. The goal was to bring awareness and educate others on the differences in these cultures and appreciate the textiles, colors, shapes, patterns, and languages represented. She wanted to share the voices of those underrepresented in mainstream media and showcase its uniqueness to others. She created two cultural and traditional garments, An Abaya and a Shalwar Kameez, which are staple clothing pieces. She used designs found in architecture, books, streets, textiles, and traditional structures to create her clothing pieces. She named her brand, Sabaa, meaning a gentle breeze as it conveys messages, spreads them through different channels, and shapes meaning. She wants her brand to fill the void of misrepresentation in mainstream media and appreciate the differences we all have in society.
